Water Resources Engineering

Scope and Objectives

Graduate studies in Water Resources Engineering at Oregon State University emphasize engineering hydrology, hydraulics and water quality concepts and techniques and their broader application to pressing environmental problems involving natural resource use and protection. The instructional program aims at developing strong abilities to conduct engineering work involving basic concepts and principles, technical analysis, planning, design and management. Applications are made to a variety of water resources systems and the associated affected aquatic ecosystems. The program is highly interdisciplinary. Students are prepared for careers in consulting and design, environmental analysis and management, and teaching and research.

Program of Study

Students develop programs from a variety of courses, offering a blend of civil engineering work and interdisciplinary studies. Civil Engineering departmental courses typically form the major field of study. Supporting course work from other departments and programs is encouraged because of the breadth of the water resources engineering field and to take advantage of strong supporting programs in many natural resources departments on campus.

The major field usually consists of a core of course work in surface and groundwater hydrology and hydraulics, water quality, river engineering, and resource assessment. This is complemented by studies in a selected field such as environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, bioresource engineering, forest hydrology, stream ecology, geomorphology and geology, and resource economics, as well as many other possibilities.

Students consult with faculty to develop study programs that fit their academic and professional goals. Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in Civil Engineering are offered. The Master of Science degree requires twelve months of full-time study and completion of a research study in the form of a thesis or project report. The doctorate degree requires at least two years of additional study and research and is granted for the completion of a dissertation involving original, creative research. Students may also study water resources engineering within the department’s Master of Engineering degree program, for which no thesis or research project is required.

Entrance Requirements and Coursework

Minimum entrance requirements (equivalent coursework):
Calculus and differential equations: MTH 251, 252, 254, 256, and 306
Statistics: ST 314
Physics (with calculus): PH 211 and 212
Chemistry: CH 201
Engineering Mechanics: ENGR 211 (statics), 212 (dynamics), and 213 (strength of materials, recommended but not required)
Fluid Mechanics* and Hydraulics: CE 311 and 313

*If a student has not had a basics fluids course, or needs a refresher, CE 547 Water Resources Engineering I: Principles of Fluid Mechanics (4) is highly recommended.

Courses commonly taken by water resources engineering students include the following:
CE 512 Hydrology (3) or BRE 512 Physical Hydrology (4)
CE/BRE 514 Groundwater Hydraulics (3)
CE 517 Hydraulic Engineering (4)
CE 518 Groundwater Modeling (4)
CE/BRE 525 Stochastic Hydrology (3)
CE 543 Advanced Hydrology (4)
CE/BRE 544 Open Channel Hydraulics (4)
CE 545 Sediment Transport (4)
CE 546 River Engineering (4)
CE 547 Water Resources Engineering I: Principles of Fluid Mechanics (4)
CE 548 Water Quality Dynamics (3)
ENVE 531 Fate and Transport of Chemicals in Environmental Systems (4)
FE 532 Forest Hydrology (3)
FE 537 Hillslope and Watershed Hydrology (4)
FE 538 Field Hydrology (3)

Other courses relevant to water resources engineering may be found among other civil and environmental engineering areas and in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering and the departments of Biological and Ecological Engineering (BRE), Forest Engineering (FE), Geosciences (GEO), and elsewhere. Mathematics (MTH) and Statistics (ST) are also likely sources of coursework. Course descriptions may be found here.

Research

Some recent research projects include:

• Fish passage facilities for dams on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers
• Culvert modifications for fish passage
• Morphology of gravel bed rivers
• Evaluation of best management practices (BMPs) and low-impact development (LID) for highway and urban drainage engineers
• Improvements to the EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), Version 4 and Version 5
• Water quality characteristics of highway construction and repair materials
• Hydrologic investigations at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
• Fate and transport of organic compounds in aquifers
• In site aquifer characterization methodologies

Facilities

The College of Engineering computer network provides a wide range of hardware and software for all applications. Hydraulic and hydrology laboratories include flumes, movable-bed channels, demonstration watersheds and pipe networks. The Groundwater Research Laboratory contains several large-scale physical aquifer models (right) and a mobile analytical laboratory used for field experiments. Research is also conducted at several test wells and hazardous waste sites near campus. Research boats and equipment allow a wide range of field work in rivers, lakes and estuaries throughout the region. Instrumentation at nearby Oak Creek facilitates sediment-related research. Shop facilities provide for special apparatus needs.

Supporting Programs

Areas of concentration relevant to water resources engineering within Civil Engineering and other OSU departments include: Construction Engineering Management, Ocean Engineering, Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Simulation, Mathematics and Statistics, Business Administration and Logistics, Geotechnical Engineering, Surveying, Forest Engineering, Bioresource Engineering, Forestry and Resource Management, Economics and Resource Economics, Regional Science and Geography, and Political Science.

The new (2005) Institute for Water and Watersheds (IWW) coordinates and offers leadership in OSU and regional water-related research, teaching, and outreach functions. The IWW is yet another example of the extraordinary integrative and interdisciplinary activities in water resources engineering, science and policy ongoing at OSU.

OSU Interdisciplinary Degrees in Water Resources Engineering, Science, and Policy

Oregon State University has a Interdisciplinary Program in Water Resources that allows students to focus in Water Resources Engineering, Water Resources Science, or Water Resources Policy and Management. M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs bring together faculty and students from six colleges and multiple departments. The program includes core requirements for all students with additional work concentrated in specific degree programs (engineering, science or policy). Students draw from a set of existing OSU courses covering engineering approaches, watershed processes, and/or water resources management and policy. The course of study for the Water Resources Engineering focus area is outlined on the program web page. There is ample opportunity to take civil engineering courses, if desired.

Hydrophiles

Hydrophiles is the OSU student chapter of the American Water Resources Association and American Institute of Hydrology. The purpose is to bring people from all areas of water resources together for social and professional exchange. Activities include field trips; presentations by students, faculty, and off-campus professionals; and social events. Hydrophiles finds common ground for water resources students and faculty in all of the science, engineering, and management departments on campus. This is a valuable resource for communication and learning within the OSU community.

Graduate Admissions

Visit the school graduate admissions page for more information. For program-specific questions, you may also contact Ms. Kathy Westberg, graduate coordinator. Information may also be found on the CCE Graduate Students web pages.

Financial Support

Financial assistance is available in the form of teaching assistantships and graduate research assistantships. A limited number of fellowships are available in the College of Engineering. Approximately half of our students are supported through these assistantships or fellowships. The remainder may be supported by their employer, by government or military programs, internships, or self-supported.